Support for serving trays



Feb. 28, 1933. F. RAVLIN 1,899,480

SUPPORT FOR SERVING TRAYS Filed Oct. 4, 1932 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 PATENT OFFICE f FREDERICK r. RAVLIN, or 1:15am,- FLORIDA 1 V surron'r non snnyme TRAYS This invention is directed to a support for serving trays designed more particularly for use in connection with automobiles, and adapted for removable connection withthe window glass pocket of a selected door to position the tray for convenient use within the automobile. Q j

Tray. supports of this character must combine certain essential requirements to be of commercial utility, as for example, the tray support must be capable of instant connection with the windowglass pocket'oriremova1 therefrom; must support the traytoavoid interference with access to the door-pocket when the tray is in use; must not interfere with the raising or lowering of the window when in place; and must possess adjustabiL' ity to compensate for different thicknesses of door wall inwardly of the pocket. The present invention is designed to present and maintain the essential characteristics above mentioned, in that it providesffor easy and quick connection or removal; will permit full Window operation when in place; is sufliciently spaced from the inner side of the door to avoidinterference with accessto the doorpocket; and is adjustableto compensate for different thicknesses of door wall whilemaintaining the rigidity and security of'the' support and the substantial level of the tray carriedby the support. 4 T

The invention therefore consists in providing supporting arms to which the tray is rigidly or removably secured, with such arms including an inclined section overlying'the innersurface of the door andterminating in hook-sections to engage over the'free .upper edge of the window pocket in the door;the inclined sections being provided with mandifferent thicknesses of the inner walls. of

window pockets.

The invention is illustrated in the accomfied form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig.

- tion of the, tray, if desired.

t ce'. v The arms 11 at the upper ends of the inually adjustable means for compensating for i r Applicationflled October 4, i932. Seria1uo.63e,2 45. I

2, sh owing the sliding cooperation of the compensating member and the support arms.

"The improved support comprisessupporting'arms, 1,'provided in duplicateand ar-.

ranged in-spaced] parallel relation. The 5 main length, 2 ofthe arms are provided .to T support the tray or like element, such-being here shown as a shallow tray 3, preferably, but not necessarily of metal and of sufiicient surface area for the contemplated 1 r s The tray 3 may be permanently secured to thesections 2 of thearms 1, though'the invention contemplates to removable connece Thesections 2 ofthe. arms 1 extend be- 65 yond the relative inner'edge "4 of thetray 3 for a desired'distance, and the-arms are then turnedupwardly, presenting sections 5 whichincline'upwardly and'toward the tray at approximately thirty; degrees. (30 to the l0 7 vertical. Obviously, more or less inclination iscontemplated if desirable," though the iIi'dicated inclination is'preferable forusual pracclinedsectioiis 5 are extended forwardly as' sections 6, which sectionsjfi' are projected parallel with the sections 12' and therefore withthetray3; Thearms 1 are preferably ofstrip'form, with the sections2 and "'5 on edge vertically, while thesections 6 are turned at 'right angles to, the sections 5 topresent V fiat bearing surfaces for cooperation with the wall of the, window glass pocket. The sections 6 terminate in downwardly-turned hooks 7 designed to. fit within the window glass doorpockets and bear against the inner.

surface of the relatively inner wall .8 of such 7 pocketsn The hook terminals 7 arejde'signed tofavoid interference with desired movement p I of the window in the pocket while, thehooks areinplace. 1 i The described inclination ofthe'sections 5 of the arms 1,-presentsas lower forward hearing points ,9 the junctions of 'thesections'2 and 5. .These'bearing pointsiform the lower contact and supporting terminals of the-tray:

support, and in the absenceof other means would"eng'age the inner surface of jthefdo'orand hold the'tray inpositi'on. With the inner The preferred form of such means is illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the adjustable hearing contact is in the form of a bar 10, extending betweenthe sections 5 of the support, and passing through slots 11 in such sections 5, the slots aligning with the sections. Beyond each section 5, the bar 10 is bent around the-forward slot wall, as at 12, then projected forwardly, as at13, and terminallyformed with alateralfoot 14, preferably provided with a @pad 1-5.

Through the medium of the inclined slots 11, the adjustable bearing contact foot 14 varies its horizontal advance according to its position lengthwise the slots. so that in positioning thetray as described, the adjustable bearing contact is moved in the slots until the feet 14:, or more exactly the pads 15 thereon, contact with the inner surface ofthe door, As this adjustment follows a leveling of the tray, and-the adjustment is madelto insure bearing contact with the inner surface of the door, it follows that the tray will be maintained level and .a securing support and bearing maintained regardless of the thickness of the inner wall 80f the window pocket The form illustrated in Fig. 2 is a slight modification as to the adjusting compensating member. Herethe arms, indicated at 16 are similar to the arms of the preferred form. such arms 16 having section 17 to support the tray 18, inclined sections 19, upperflat sections 20 havingterminal hooks 21, with the respective parts arranged; as described in the preferred form. The adjustable compensating be'aring member in this modified form comprises a bar 22 extending between the sections 19, but instead of passing through slots in such section, are bent to embrace three sides of each section, as indicated at 23. Thus the compensating member has sliding and guided relation to the inclined sections 19 and is compelled to follow such sections in movement. The compensating member in the modified form extends forwardly at 24, with a terminal foot 25, havinga pad 26.'

The operation, function, and result of the modified construction is similar to, that of the preferredform, as will be'obvious.

The armsof the supports of both forms are preferably rigid relatively, and as the 7 tray maintainsthis rigidity-at one end, it is contemplated to connect such arms near the opposite ends. Any means to this end may be employed, such being indicated as a transverse brace 27.

w The lengths of the sections 2 of the arms 1 in advance of the tray toward the sections 5 will support the tray proper a sufiicient distance from the inner surface of the door to permit free access to the usual door pocket while the tray is in use. Of course the tray so called is merely an illustration of an element to be carried by the arms, and no limitation is intended by the form shown, as other forms of traysfflat tables, or even receptacles may be readily employed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is.: r

1. A tray and a support therefor, said support including tray-carrying arms having upstandingrelatively inclined sections, said inclined sections terminating in hooks on the opposite side of said arms from their tray receiving portion, and members adjustable longitudinally of such inclined portions of the arms to provide a bearing contact for such support below and opposed to said hooks.

2. A tray and support therefor, said support including tray-carrying arms terminating in hooks, an intermediate portion of such arms being inclined relative :to the vertical, and elements slidably cooperating with such inclined portions-of said arms to form adjustable bearing contacts for the support, said elements being compelled tofollow the inclined portions of the arms.

v 3. A tray and support therefor, said support including tray-carrying arms having terminal hooks, said arms having portions extending above the tray level and inclined with respect to the vertical and interposed between the tray level and the hooks, ele ments having sliding cooperation' with the inclined portions of the arms, and bearing feet at the inner ends of said elements.

4. vA tray and support therefor, saidsupport, including tray-carrying arms having terminal hooks, said arms including slotted relatively inclined portions between the tray level and the hooks, and bearin -contact members for'the tray movable longitudinally of said inclined portions and guided in said slots. i

5. A tray and support therefor, said sup port including tray-carrying arms having terminal hooks, said arms having relatively inclined portions between the tray level and the hooks, andcontact bearing members mov able longitudinally of such inclined arm portions for adjustment, said members being formed to partly enclose such inclined portions for guiding cooperation therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK F. RAVLIN. 

